Difference maker
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
John the Baptist knew there was a Messiah coming after him that would bring change to people’s hearts and to their lives. It can be difficult to wait for a change to come, but if we wait for the One who wants to save us, the wait will be worth it!
BIBLE STORY
Play a version or Red light Green Light. Have your child start at a starting point in an open area, when you call a color, they have to move a certain direction. For example Green=go forward, Red=move to the right, Blue= move backwards, yellow= move to the left. As you call out colors to change directions as frequently as you are able.
In this game, it was hard to know when the direction was going to change. You had to listen to the instructions and be prepared to change the direction you were going. Our story today is about how John the Baptist knew that the coming Savior, Jesus, would change everything. He would change how people were forgiven, how they would live their lives, and how they would be saved.
Read or listen to John 1:19-28
Who did the Jewish leaders send to find out more about John the Baptist? (Priests and levites)
Who did John confess to be? (Not the Messiah)
Who did John say he was according to Isiah? (The voice in the wilderness)
Who did the religious leaders believe should be baptizing people? (The Messiah, Elijah or a prophet)
Did John the Baptist claim to be any of those people? (No)
How did John differ his baptism from the coming Messiah? (John baptized with water but the One coming would baptize with the Holy Spirit)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
John the Baptist knew that he was not the Savior but Jesus was the Savior to come. He knew Jesus was the one that would change everything, the people just needed to wait for Him. Play this game Who am I? Listen to the following descriptions and decide if there person being described is Jesus or John the Baptist.
- I wore camel skin
- I ate locust
-My parents were told about my birth by an angel
- I baptized by water
- I was born in a manger
- I baptize with the Holy Spirit
- I came out of the wilderness
Alternate
What are some things that can change from one thing to another? Can you change one color to make a new color? Let’s practice mixing colors to see if you can create some new colors! On a paper plate or paint palette, add primary colors of paint around the palette. Give instructions on how to mix two colors together to create a new color. Using the new color palette, color a coloring sheet or a blank sheet of paper to create a picture.
Materials: paper plate or paint color palette, paint brushes, white sheet of paper or coloring sheet, Paint of primary colors (red, green, blue, yellow), paint of various colors (optional)
Independent activity:
Sometimes we have to wait for a little while in order to see any change happen. Find a bean, a wet paper towel and a clear ziplock bag. Place your bean inside the wet paper towel but keep the bean in the bag where you can still see it while the bag is closed. Keep your bag in a window seal or taped to a window. Observe your bean each day and see how long it takes for you to see a change in your bean. After the bean begins to sprout you can plant it in a small cup of dirt and place in the sun. Although you had to wait awhile to see any change, the bean eventually changed.
Materials: clear ziplock bag, dry bean, wet paper towel, tape (optional)
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Create a yarn star with craft sticks glued together. Then wrap the star in yarn or decorate with beans and sequence.
Materials: craft sticks, yellow yarn, glue, optional: beans and sequence
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Do you like to wait for things?
What is something you wait patiently for?
What is something you wait impatiently for?
What did John tell the people they needed to wait to see?
John was preparing the people for Jesus’ coming, had they been waiting for the Messiah to come?
Did God’s people give up on the Messiah ever coming?
Why did John say he was unworthy to untie the straps of the One coming after him?
Practical Application at Home
How can we change the community around us? What can we do in little and big ways to change our community? We don’t have to be big to make a difference to people around us. This week look for ways to serve others in your community.
-volunteer to serve food at a soup kitchen
-help box food to give to those in need
-Hand out blankets, coats and other cold weather clothing to those in need
-organize a coat drive for a local elementary school
-donate food to a local food bank
-offer to rake and do yard work for those who are elderly in your neighborhood
-make Christmas gifts for shut-ins or those living in assistant living facilities
Look for other ways to serve and bless those in your community.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Use this season of giving to give back to others in your community. Use one of the suggestions above to serve the people in your community in a big way. You can also serve the people in your neighborhood by giving words or cards of encouragement.